RA 229.8618° · Dec -7.7223° · star
4 more points to reach Epic.
GL Gl 581 is a rare variable star. It lies about 20.3 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Lib, shines at apparent magnitude 10.57 and has spectral type M5.
Its spectrum reads M5 — an M-type red star — and M stars are the silent majority: roughly three of every four stars in the galaxy are one.
Look for GL Gl 581 in the constellation Lib. At apparent magnitude 10.57, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, GL Gl 581 is best seen from a dark site away from city lights, and when it is above the horizon depends on your latitude and the time of year. The visibility panel above works out tonight's viewing window for your saved location.
GL Gl 581 scores 46 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the rare tier. Another 4 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 8 science badges — Variable star, Nearby (<25 ly), On the zodiac, Cool red M-type star, Deep red star, Red dwarf, Gently variable and A named variable star — each earned for a real, measurable property of the object. Rarity on Spacedle is never random: the more remarkable an object's astrophysics, the more badges it collects, the higher it scores, and the rarer it ranks.